The Matt Wilhelm Award is given by the Morning Journal to the football player of the year and is named after the former Elyria Catholic Panthers and Ohio State Buckeyes star. Wilhelm won a BCS national championship in college and the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers during his seven-year NFL career.
The Wilhelm Award watch list is released each week prior to the awards ceremony. This list is flexible and subject to change from week to week. The opening list serves as a guideline for some of the region’s best returners and a benchmark for the start of the season.
In alphabetical order:
QB Sam Brucchieri, Sr., Westlake: Brucchieri was on several Matt Wilhelm watch lists during the 2023 season. He had 1,621 passing yards and threw 15 touchdowns. He will be without offensive linemen Matthew Porcelli (third-team Division II All-Ohio running back) and wide receiver Cooper Rummel. However, first-year Demons coach and former offensive coordinator Logan Yantek plans to let him run more. Brucchieri was also named to the second-team GLC and received honorable mention All-District.
QB Cy Christensen, Jr., Clearview: Christensen helped Clearview to a Division V, Region 17 semifinal appearance in 2023. This year, he won’t have the numerous dynamic weapons he had last year. When Christensen gets time to throw, he has shown in several practice games that he can get the ball to multiple receivers. Christensen was a third-team Division V All-Ohioan, throwing for 2,372 yards and 23 touchdowns.
QB Nolan Good, Sr., Avon: The Eagles have all the tools to form one of the best air raid offenses in Ohio, and Good, a Division II first-team All-Ohioan, will lead that offense. He threw for 2,100 yards, 21 touchdowns and had a 62 percent completion rate. Good also ran for 518 yards and scored double-digit touchdowns on the ground. Although Avon will not have Jakorion Caffey or Luke Hamilton, the skill positions are well-staffed, particularly at the wide receiver position, with first-team All-Ohioan Matt Maxey and state championship-qualified sprinters Cole Kepner and Joe Weatherspoon.
RB Kevin Jordan, Sr., Elyria: Jordan had a stellar season in 2023. In seven games, Jordan totaled 1,100 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Jordan’s best game was a 334-yard, five-touchdown performance against Amherst in a 46-41 shootout win. The Pioneers will have a first-year quarterback. If they can balance the offense in the air, that could be enough to let him run unhindered.
QB Burke Lowry, Jr., Fairview: Lowry was selected as a Division III All-Ohioan selection on the basketball court and also earned honorable mention All-District quarterback on the field. He threw for 1,601 passing yards with 12 touchdowns. He has a new set of wide receivers as his All-Ohio basketball teammates JR Beato (honorable mention) and Will Allen (third team) join the team. This should increase the effectiveness of Fairview’s vertical passing game.
QB Cole Norris, Sr., Amherst: Norris was All-Ohio as a punter and he also shined behind center, throwing 17 passing touchdowns and scoring six on the ground. Norris also had nearly 2,000 passing yards. Considering the Comets will have a more experienced offensive line and targets like running back JR Bires, wide receiver Tristyn Young, David Duziak and Division II All-Ohio tight end Eli Solak, their 2024 season looks promising.
QB Zach Shackelford, Sr., Keystone: After returning from a season-ending injury, Shackelford’s health could be the difference in the balance of power in the Lorain County League. He scored five touchdowns four ways and on three sides of the ball in his only complete game in the season opener. Expect him to utilize Keystone’s run-pass option at a high level, a system he’s been a part of since he played for his dad in middle school.
ATH Charlie Steinmetz, Sr., North Ridgeville: Steinmetz can do it all on offense, and the Division II second-team All-Ohioan has amassed 1,600 all-purpose yards. As an H-back, he became the team’s first 1,000-yard runner since 2017. He was selected to the SWC, Lorain County and Northeast Lakes District first team.
WR/S Luke Stuewe, Sr., Avon Lake: Stuewe committed to play Division I college football at Virginia Tech. Despite only playing in a little over five games, he earned honorable mention as a Division II All-Ohio. Stuewe was a turnover machine on defense, forcing two fumbles and intercepting four passes.
